Welcome back to a new edition of Musical Disclosure. This week we dedicate ourselves to a truly complete artist: David Bowie.

 

In particular, we focus on Bowie's fifth studio album, released in 1972: "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars". This is the work through which the artist establishes himself as a central figure in glam rock: revolving around the eccentric fictional character of Ziggy Stardust, the work tells the story of his rise and fall. Ziggy is the emblem of the plastic rockstar, a boy who, with the help of an alien, becomes a hero in a world on the brink of apocalypse. Extraterrestrial and androgynous, bold and awkward, Ziggy is idolized by the public, but falls from grace succumbing to his own ego. 
In this theatrical concept album, the musical influences that Bowie had absorbed in those years are evident, from Iggy Pop's proto-punk to Marc Bolan's glam rock, to the alternative rock of the Velvet Underground. Contrary to what one might think, the album's concept is developed only after the recording of the 11 tracks that make it up, co-produced with Ken Scott and played by the "Spiders from Mars", Mick Ronson on guitar, Trevor Bolder on bass, and Mick Woodmansey on drums. 
The tracks address themes of celebrity, drugs, sexuality, politics, and rock stereotypes. In "Five Years", the first song on the album, it is revealed that Earth has only 5 years left before being destroyed by an impending apocalypse. "Soul Love" sees different characters dealing with love before the announced catastrophe, while in "Moonage Daydream" Ziggy presents himself directly to the listener. With "Starman" he brings a message of hope through the radio to young earthlings, but soon, in "Star", looking at himself in the mirror, he wonders what it would be like to become a rock star. In "Ziggy Stardust", the central track of the record, we relive the life of the protagonist: Ziggy has truly succeeded in his intent, but, giving in to his ego, he has lost everything, his fans and his band. The story ends with Ziggy's death on stage, in "Rock 'n Roll Suicide", where the protagonist addresses the audience for the last time asking for their hands. 
In recent decades, "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" has been included in numerous lists of the greatest albums in the history of music, and we can only remember Bowie through one of his most famous masterpieces. 

 

Today we offer you the iconic "Starman".